Route finding skills, map reading, compass use, and modern GPS technology for confident backcountry travel.
Master bearing-taking, following an azimuth, and triangulation for pinpoint location. Learn about magnetic declination adjustments across Canada and why ignoring declination leads to significant route errors. Includes practice exercises for building compass confidence before real-world application.
Read on Trail
Understand contour lines, map scales, and elevation profiles for route planning. Learn to visualize terrain from 2D maps, identify saddles and ridges, and estimate hiking times. Includes tips for recognizing map features on the ground and maintaining orientation in complex terrain.
Read on Trail
Use waypoints, tracks, and routes effectively for modern backcountry navigation. Learn battery management, screen visibility in bright sun, and backup strategies when electronics fail. Understand datum settings and coordinate systems for compatibility with maps and rescue communication.
Read on Trail
Calculate realistic hiking speeds accounting for elevation gain, terrain, and pack weight. Learn Naismith's rule and Book time formulas for trip planning. Understand how to build appropriate safety margins and when to adjust plans based on actual versus estimated progress on trail.
Read on Trail
Stay oriented in fog, whiteout conditions, and dense forest without visual landmarks. Master dead reckoning, pace counting, and using terrain features by feel. Learn when to stop and wait for visibility versus continuing with careful navigation through hazardous conditions.
Read on Trail
Travel confidently through trackless wilderness with advanced map and compass skills. Learn attack points, handrail features, and catching features for cross-country route finding. Understand when to follow terrain versus straight-line routes and how to maintain direction through obstacles.
Read on Trail
Never miss a turn with systematic intersection confirmation techniques. Learn to recognize trail junctions before you reach them, verify routes against maps, and recover when you realize you've missed a turn. Includes strategies for confusing trail systems with multiple branches.
Read on Trail
Recover from disorientation with systematic strategies before panic sets in. Learn STOP (Stop, Think, Observe, Plan) protocol and back-tracking techniques. Understand when to stay put versus moving, and how to signal for rescue if truly lost in backcountry conditions.
Read on Trail